1st Circuit Solo
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Sussex
Age: 42
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Well done buddy.
My first solo was in Florida at Fort Pierce International. I was climbing out expecting a left circuit (we only do left circuits in the UK, usually) when at about 300ft the controller came on and told me to make a right circuit!! Great, first ever solo, my mind was working overtime to remember everything and I'm told to do something other than what I was expecting. I had done a few right hand circuits with my instructor but it still threw me off a bit.
Anyway, I'm midfield downwind, report to the controller and he tells me that I have a Learjet on final and asks if I want to extend downwind or turn base early!! At this point I'm cursing my luck, BIG TIME. I didn't want to turn base early as I wanted enough time to get established on final so I confirm that I will extend and let the Learjet come in before me. I turn onto base as the Learjet passes and start to get configured. As I'm approaching the runway I hit the wake turbulence from the jet and basically sh*t myself as the plane starts tossing about so I power up and go around. Second time round I made the best landing I've ever done (most will say this
) and my instructor was very pleased that I had decided to go around and said I had of course done the right thing.
Was great looking back but slightly concerning at the time, lol.
My first solo was in Florida at Fort Pierce International. I was climbing out expecting a left circuit (we only do left circuits in the UK, usually) when at about 300ft the controller came on and told me to make a right circuit!! Great, first ever solo, my mind was working overtime to remember everything and I'm told to do something other than what I was expecting. I had done a few right hand circuits with my instructor but it still threw me off a bit.
Anyway, I'm midfield downwind, report to the controller and he tells me that I have a Learjet on final and asks if I want to extend downwind or turn base early!! At this point I'm cursing my luck, BIG TIME. I didn't want to turn base early as I wanted enough time to get established on final so I confirm that I will extend and let the Learjet come in before me. I turn onto base as the Learjet passes and start to get configured. As I'm approaching the runway I hit the wake turbulence from the jet and basically sh*t myself as the plane starts tossing about so I power up and go around. Second time round I made the best landing I've ever done (most will say this
) and my instructor was very pleased that I had decided to go around and said I had of course done the right thing.Was great looking back but slightly concerning at the time, lol.
Hmm... I once overheard somebody being told to 'hold' (rather than orbit) on their first solo and getting confused. Then there's the Southend accident.
Certainly it seems that making Easyjet and royalty wait for the first-solo pilots would be good for safety.
Certainly it seems that making Easyjet and royalty wait for the first-solo pilots would be good for safety.
Last edited by abgd; 11th May 2012 at 23:00.
Join Date: Feb 2011
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A lot of people don't think that learning to fly in the US is good for UK pilots but I can tell you now that Fort Pierce is very busy, all day and usually most of the night too with hour builders. You learn to operate in a busy airfield environment indeed, usually with 3 or 4 planes in the circuit continuously and several others arriving and departing, including the jets.
Once out of the ATZ you do certainly have vast open spaces where sometimes you wont encounter another plane at all, which is great but once you get near airfields they are usually very busy.
On my qualifying Cross country I overflew Okeechobee (KOBE) and stopped at La Belle airfield to get my forms filled in etc. I departed La Belle and as I was passing Airglades airfield on the south side of Lake Okeechobee I converged with a huge military helicopter at 2000ft approaching from my left. I slowed and essentially let them move ahead and across in front of me and we literally flew side by side for a few miles with about a 1000 - 1500ft between us. It was incredible and I doubt you would have many experiences like this in the UK on your solo cross country.
When I landed at Stuart international (bigger than Fort Pierce and way more jets) I was greeted by a couple of guys who came out on a golf buggy thing and then guided me in to park using the orange stick thingys. Was a very surreal experience when you park your PA28 next to 3 corporate jets!
This was my view when I got out the plane at Stuart....
Pilot Training :: Dreaming of jets when I parked my little Piper PA28 at Stuart International video by ct8282 - Photobucket
Last edited by ct8282; 12th May 2012 at 08:48.
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Manchester, UK
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Well done.
My first solo was great and I made probably the smoothest landing of my entire training. I remember just after shutting down the aircraft that there was a huge flash and clap of thunder and an horrendous hail storm that had come from nowhere. It wasn't on the TAF and took us by surprise. Glad I'd already landed!
David
My first solo was great and I made probably the smoothest landing of my entire training. I remember just after shutting down the aircraft that there was a huge flash and clap of thunder and an horrendous hail storm that had come from nowhere. It wasn't on the TAF and took us by surprise. Glad I'd already landed!
David
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Congratulations Ron
One of the big milestones and the best news is that some of the others- first solo nav, first solo land away- are as good or even better.
I found a point towards the end of my training when it all suddenly became very serious and grown-up as I realised that though I was always going to be learning to fly I'd soon be doing so as a licenced pilot. That was twenty years ago last weekend and it's still the best thing I've ever done.
One of the big milestones and the best news is that some of the others- first solo nav, first solo land away- are as good or even better.
I found a point towards the end of my training when it all suddenly became very serious and grown-up as I realised that though I was always going to be learning to fly I'd soon be doing so as a licenced pilot. That was twenty years ago last weekend and it's still the best thing I've ever done.
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Congratulations! Amazing feeling isn't it! and i agree with what 150commuter says. I found that after 4 hours of solo circuits (1 touch and go per 6 minutes) i got pretty fed up with them and was just gagging to go further afield! Soon enough me instructor took me on a dual nav exercise and then once landed he told me to plan the route for the reverse and go do it on my own! Doing that brought such a sense of freedom and achievement! Did my first solo land away about a month ago and i must say that was the greatest feeling of achievement yet! Next up is a dual trip to goodwood, then solo QXC .. Tbh now i cannot wait for that to be over because i just want my soddin licence!! lol 
Last edited by RyanRs; 13th May 2012 at 23:50.
